Ben Simmons Stella's Performance in His Clippers Debut

Ben Simmons’ Stellar Performance in His Clippers Debut

After being released by the Brooklyn Nets, Ben Simmons has signed with the Los Angeles Clippers. In his debut with the Clippers, Simmons scored 12 points, shooting 4 out of 5 from the field. He also grabbed 7 rebounds and recorded 6 assists. The most impressive part of Simmons’s performance was his perfect 4 for 4 from the free throw line.

With this performance right before the NBA All-Star break, one has to wonder whether Ben Simmons is on track for a strong second half of the NBA season or if this is just false hope, representing the best he can offer the Los Angeles Clippers.

After being traded to the Brooklyn Nets in 2022 for James Harden, Ben Simmons saw his scoring average drop from 15 points per game to just 6 points per game. He sat out numerous games, allegedly due to back injuries, and when he did play, he seemed like a shadow of his former self.

Simmons’s inability to score was his biggest issue during his time in Brooklyn. While averaging 8 rebounds and 6 assists per game wasn’t bad, his lack of scoring was a major problem. Watching him play with the Nets felt like watching 4-on-5 basketball.

For Ben Simmons to effectively contribute to the Los Angeles Clippers, he needs to stop approaching the game like a 13-year-old in an AAU tournament. Instead of overthinking his moves, he should focus on simply playing the game. A crucial aspect of being a professional basketball player is having confidence. While players may make some shots and miss others, if Simmons carries an overthinking mindset and a fear of shooting to Los Angeles, we might see a repeat of the version of him that we witnessed with the Brooklyn Nets.